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Topic: help needed jbp from nurserie 5' tall (Read 2144 times)

Hello everyone brand new on this and looking for advice . Yesterday I find this jbp at my local nurseries for a good price I think, the tree is in 5gallon nurseries black pot, about 5 feet tall and 6 inch in circumference with a lot of new growth all around. So my question is what should I do with to start it looking like a bonsai tree because right is looking more like Christmas tree. Please any advice will be appreciate.Thank you

So the question is can trunk chop and report it now ? Or should I wait to do that in the winter while is dormant and don't bleed to much ? Wait for spring time ? Or do some now some later ?? As you can see I very new at this I have been reading some info online but I'm now even more confused .

I agree w/ Matsu re: roots first. That said, I'd probably go about it this way:

1.) I'd cut the nursery can its in so that it isn't any higher than the soil line (possibly after removing any extraneous soil above obvious roots).2.) I'd cut obviously long/unnecessary branches ...all the while leaving PLENTY of needles or branchlets to further develop the tree.3.) I'd needle pluck leaving 8-12 pairs of needles (erring on the side of more) in hopes of improving exposure to light and increased airflow. This would have the result of allowing you to get a picture of what's going on with the tree and then you could share that with us for further feedback.

...then do what Matsu suggested about getting this tree into good soil.

looks super healthy to me. I would spend the next few months mapping out your future tree. Maybe cut a few of the obviously gotta go branches off or back to their first node now but wait to do the larger ones and the rest closer to the end of winter like Matsu suggested. Then wait until tree has stabilized from these cuts, likely until next spring(1 year later to start the 2-year repotting process, again that Matsu suggested). For whatever reason maybe the tall container, the lack of full penetration of water during quick waterings, black pines seem to love being in nursery cans with dirt.

before you go lopping off branches you think you don't need, find the local bonsai club. im sure there is somebody there that will walk you through this first important step. once cut off, a branch can't go back on. You are in California, so a club is within rock throwing distance. On the other hand, there is an advantage to tackling it yourself. Any mistakes you make, will be a good lesson learned, and if the tree turns out nice, you can take all the credit

depending on what style of tree you have in mind you will likely build your tree with the branches that are in the first 3-5 inches, below where there is a compass of 4 branches emerging from the trunk. If you go with a low enough branch as a continuation of your trunkline you can put some movement into that otherwise dead straight trunk